The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-12
Let the State Road be Sold.

Let the State Road be Sold.
The present Legislature must determine
what shall be done with the Western and
/ Atlantic railroad. The Governor has given
very good reasons in a special message why
it will not be advisable TO leave the matter
| TO be disposed of by the next Legislature,
and the President of the road, speaking for
the lessees, says that if this Legislature does
! not Indicate the purpose of the State with
regard to the property, steps will be taken
to put it in about the same condition that it
was when the existing lease was made.
What that condition was the President eX-
plains. Assuming that his explanation is
correct, and there doesn't appear to be any
good reason for questioning it, there would
be some difficulty in leasing it for the rent
now received for it, or in selling it for any
thing like the amount the State ought TO re-
ceive for it if it were reduced to the condi-
ton it was in when the lessees received
possession Of it.
1t would seem as if the Legislature could
not avoid taking definite action with regard
to the property in order to protect it from
partial ruin. 1t is true that the lessees
might hesitate about wrecking it in the way
suggested by President Brown, if the pres
ent Legislature failed to reach decision
relative to the disposition to be made of it,
but it is question whether it would be adj
visable 10 take any risks i'll the matter.
The lessees say that they don't
want TO lease the road again
but that they do want the State to compen-
safe them for the improvements they have
made, and for certain taxes they have paid
If President Browns letter is not misunder-
stood they intend that the State shall recog-
nize their claim, or they will make out of
the road, while it is in their possession, what
they think the State owes them.
Assuming that the Legislature will deter
mine what shall be done with the road the
question which presents itself is this: Shall
the property be sold or leasedl The MORN
ING NEWS has always contended, and still
contends, that the road ought to be sold. 1t
will always be a source of trouble and
contention if retained by the State,
and the chances are that event
ually it will pass ont of the States
hands without the States receiving much,
if any, compensation for it. 1t is in a good
condition now, and will bring a good price.
There are several railway systems which
want it, and doubtless will pay for it all
that it is worth Let the money received
for it be used for the liquidation of a por-
tion of the States debt. The interest money
that will be thus saved can be applied to
the purposes to which the rent of road is
now applied. The State will be in as good,
if not a better, position than it is now
and will not be bothered with piece of
property of a kind that a State should not
own. Who can say that the road at the
end of another lease of twenty years would
be as valuable as it is now? Competing
lines may ruin it, or it may be made part
of a system which would render it practi-
cally valueless TO any other system, and
which could, therefore, obtain it on its own
terms.
Now is the time to sell the road There is
a market for 1t, and it is in such a condition
as to command a large sum. Whether the
lessees have valid claim for betterments
and taxes is a question which the Legisla-
ture must determine. If they have, let
them be settled with justly and fairly, and if
they haven't, let them be made to understand
that the State will not permit the property
to be injured in any respect. If there are
issues between the State and the lessees let a
committee of the ablest members of the two
houses pe appointed to report upon them.
The State wants to do only what is right
but she wants all that belongs to her
There is doubtless considerable specula-
ton relative to the amount of the claim of
the lessees. 1t is hardly probable that it is
equal to the value of. the road. If it should
be the prediction of the MORNING NEWS
when the road was leased would be fulfilled
The chances are that the claim will not ex-
cite surprise on account of its smallness.